New menopause guidance suggestions
Menopause impact on workplace. Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development that found two thirds of working women aged between 40 and 60 said menopausal symptoms had negatively affected their jobs, including reducing concentration, increasing stress and leaving them less able to carry out tasks. Half said they had been unable to go into work because of their symptoms, while one in ten women had left their jobs as a result.
Guidance available. In new guidance the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) recommends that you must make allowances for female employees with severe symptoms, just as for those with disabilities. You could be found guilty of sex or age discrimination if you penalise staff for having to take time off when they are suffering. If you ridicule women for their problems, it may constitute harassment. Tip. For further details on the guidance, see The next step .
What can you do? Bosses have been warned they risk breaching equality laws unless they make reasonable adjustments. These could include:
- providing cooler uniforms or relaxing the uniform standards
- setting aside quiet rooms for rest
- providing fans or cooling systems for those with hot flushes
- improved flexibility, e.g. working from home.
It’s estimated that it will cost managers hundreds of thousands of pounds to defend any claims, along with potentially losing valuable employees. Therefore, it is good practice to be proactive and prevent such claims in the first place. Tip. To comply with relevant legislation and create a safe and equal workplace, use our Menopause Policy and adapt it to your work environment (see The next step ).
For details on the guidance and our Menopause Policy, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 22 issue 13.
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